Saturday, August 22, 2009

Name That Author


Let's play a game. Post a short passage (about a paragraph) from a novel that you admire - something that is indicative of the type of writing you aspire to, and something that is not so obscure there is a good chance no one else has ever heard of it. Add a line or two about why you admire this particular work. Everyone else tries to name the title and author. Hopefully that makes sense, because I am sick and the virus is taking over my brain.

Here's mine:

"Dill left us early in September, to return to Meridian. We saw him off on the five o'clock bus and I was miserable without him until it occurred to me that I would be starting to school in a week. I never looked forward more to anything in my life. Hours of wintertime had found me in the treehouse, looking over at the schoolyard, spying on the multitudes of children through a two-power telescope Jem had given me, learning of their games, following Jem's red jacket through wriggling circles of blind man's bluff, secretly sharing their misfortunes and minor victories. I longed to join them."

Reasons I love this book: emotional connection to characters; creation of setting; realistic; good message; mix of humor with drama

7 comments:

  1. Harper Lee (probably wouldn't have gotten it without the characters' names, though).

    Oh, man, I can't lay my hands on my favorites right now. They must be in my room.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I don't think I've read that particular book. Oh well.

    Here's a part that really stuck out for me in a book I read very recently.

    They come upon me all silent and menacing like Pinkerton Detectives, and they flank me--Depression on my left, Loneliness on my right. They don't need to show me their badges. I know these guys very well. We've been playing a cat-and-mouse game for years now. Though I admit that I am surprised to meet them in this elegant Italian garden at dusk. This is no place they belong.
    I say to them, "How did you find me here? Who told you I had come to Rome?"
    Depression, always the wise guy, says, "What--you're not happy to see us?"
    "Go away," I tell him.
    Loneliness, the more sensitive cop, says, "I'm sorry, ma'am. But I might have to tail you the whole time you're traveling. It's my assignment."
    "I'd really rather you didn't," I tell him, and he shrugs almost apologetically, but only moves closer...


    Here's a clue: It's the latest book I wrote about in my Book Club. If you can't guess, you'll have to come and check my blog out. =P

    ReplyDelete
  3. Looks like I might have to head to Magenta's blog. Present tense...interesting.

    I'll think about this one and add a passage later.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Jordan - Good job! Yes, it's "To Kill a Mockingbird", one of my all time favorites. I wish I had some exciting prizes to offer you, but I'll send you an electronic pat on the back.

    Magenta - I would guess Eat, Pray, Love, but it's been awhile since I read that book and I'm not sure.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I haven't read any of the posts yet because I don't want to be tainted. First, the moment I read "Dill..." I knew it was To Kill a Mocking Bird. One of my all time faves! Good taste, Linda. ;)

    Here's mine and then I'll go and read everyone else's.

    "Sharp's the word," said Peter, and all four made off through the door at the far end of the room. But when they had got out into the Green Room and beyond it, into the library, they suddenly heard voices ahead of them, and realised that Mrs. Macready must be bringing her party of sight-seers up the back stairs--instead of up the front stairs as they had expected. And after that--whether it was that they lost their heads, or that Mrs. Macready was trying to catch them, or that some magic in the house had come to life and was chasing them into Narnia--they seemed to find themselves being followed everywhere, until at last Susan said, "Oh bother those trippers! Here--let's get into the Wardrobe Room till they've passed. No one will follow us in there." But the moment they were inside they heard voices in the passage--and then someone fumbling at the door--and then they saw the handle turning.
    "Quick!" said Peter, "there's nowhere else," and flung open the wardrobe. All four of them bundled inside it an sat there, panting, in the dark. Peter held the door closed but did not shut it; for, of course, he remembered, as every sensible person does, that you should never shut yourself up in a wardrobe.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Whoops! Love this passage because it's the first book I remember ever reading beginning to end. It's The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and this passage in particular has all of the suspense a young child can handle. (with proper build up, of course). I loved the magic of it especially since I always wanted to escape to someplace better then where I was.

    ReplyDelete
  7. One of my faves as well Arlene! The best of the series in my opinion.

    ReplyDelete